IIT Delhi expands mental health, grievance support for students amid IIT-B row

IIT Delhi has outlined a range of measures covering academic flexibility, counselling, mentorship and grievance redressal. The institute said student welfare remains a fundamental priority.IIT Delhi has outlined a range of measures covering academic flexibility, counselling, mentorship and grievance redressal.IIT Delhi has outlined a series of measures to strengthen student welfare, with a focus on mental health, academic flexibility, mentorship and grievance redressal.The institute said student well-being remains a fundamental priority and highlighted initiatives introduced across its academic, counselling and governance systems.This comes after the recent case of suicide of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died after he was found using a mobile phone during an examination.LESS ACADEMIC PRESSURE, MORE FLEXIBILITYUnder its revised curriculum introduced in 2025, IIT Delhi said first-semester credit requirements have been reduced, while life-skills courses have been introduced. First-year departmental classes have also been capped at 30 to 60 students. The institute said it has sought to minimise weekend examinations while retaining flexibility in credit distribution.Another key change was the removal of the minimum CGPA requirement for the BTech degree from the 2024-25 academic year. IIT Delhi said the move provides students with greater academic flexibility.MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT ROUND THE CLOCK For students seeking mental healthcare, IIT Delhi said round-the-clock support is available through counsellors and psychiatrists, including experts from AIIMS and VIMHANS.External mental healthcare is fully reimbursed, according to the institute. It has also put in place an emergency response protocol and Academic Unit Wellness Committees.The UG Buddy Programme has been expanded to include PG and International Buddy programmes from 2025. The National Resource Centre for Value Education in Engineering also includes yoga and meditation modules in its wellness initiatives.HELP FOR ACADEMICS AND GRIEVANCESStudents struggling academically can access the Academic Progress Group, which has provided evening tutoring and credit-backlog support since 2023.Faculty-student engagement is supported through the Student-Teacher Interaction Council, semester-wise interactions, faculty office hours, project guidance, hostel engagement and Class Committee feedback.For grievances, students can use a centralised, reference-tracked ERP portal, the Board for Student Welfare, SC/ST and OBC cells, hostel wardens, the Internal Complaints Committee and confidential counselling channels.FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIONIIT Delhi said its Office of Diversity and Inclusion, established in 2022, oversees non-discrimination and accessibility initiatives.Induction programmes by the Initiative for Gender Equity and Sensitisation, Initiative for Caste Equity and Office of Accessible Education address biases linked to caste, gender, language, region and ethnicity.- Ends